It's been revealed how outdoor education can help build teenagers up.
The Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre is 20 minutes east of the Lewis Pass.
They're a not-for-profit organisation offering outdoor education programmes to secondary school groups and are in the business of fostering leadership, growth and confidence in young people.
Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre Manager Sharon Nicholas talks to Kerre Woodham about the importance of outdoor education for young people.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Carrywood and Morning's podcast from news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be a story on our n ZET this morning,
cut my eye. It's about the importance of outdoor education
and how it helps to build up teenagers. The Boyle
River Outdoor Education Center is twenty minutes east of the
Lewis Pass. It's not for profit that it offers outdoor
ed programs to mainly secondary school groups and are in
(00:30):
the business of fostering leadership, growth and confidence in young people.
Sharon Nicholas is the center manager. She joins me, now,
good morning to you more very much. It's a fantastic idea,
the outdoor education. The teachers I've spoken to have been
on these say that quite often the introverted kids, the
(00:52):
ones who hang back a bit, suddenly find themselves and
are bolder and stronger and braver than anybody ever imagined.
Is that what you see on a day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, I think we do see that the day to
day basis, along with kids that are not always academic
who really shine in this space.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
How many kids do you get through your center.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Varies from year to year. How many people we have
through the center to date, this year, we've had over
fifteen hundred closer to seventeen hundred people through our doors
this year.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Is that what you can cope with? Could you take more?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
We do still have some spaces. It's always more difficult
in winter to find people willing to brave the cold. However,
we're pretty excited about the numbers that we're seeing this year.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Tell me about the kind of qualities that can foster
in young people doing this sort of outdoor education. What
do you put them through and how do they respond
to it.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It's really interesting. The qualities that can be fostered vary
because the individuals vary. I think what we do see
is we see a real increase in resilience and belief
in themselves. I think we also see many of them
becoming more comfortable with what might be an uncomfortable space
(02:23):
for themselves. And then there is of course the ability
to step into leadership roles and just grow in confidence
believing that they can actually do things.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
For many of them, how this would be new territory,
wouldn't it. They wouldn't have parents that would take them
out into the bush.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, it is a new space for many of them
because a lot of parents may not have their own
experiences in the bush, and we do see a lot
of first generation New Zealanders coming through our doors, and
so it can be nerve wracking space for them, and
they can come in with a bit of anxiety, which
means part of our job is to try to encourage
(03:05):
them to connect with tile with our environment so that
they can feel like they're a part of it and
not are separated from it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I mean, I have heard of some kids who reach
early teenager who have never seen the sea, never seen
a river, You've never even seen a night sky full
of stars.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, we feel really privileged up here at the Boyle
River out the center because I think we have a
lot of those things available, not the sea, and we're
loose definitely in the middle nowhere. But our night skies
are beautiful. We have stunning rivers, we have beautiful bush terrain,
and they get the opportunity to experience all of those
(03:49):
over their time while they're with us.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Does anyone ever freak out and find the hooting of
the owls, of the lurdu and the night sky just
too much, too much of a sensory overload.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
It's an interesting question. The idea of them freaking out.
I think they definitely get nervous when it's so new.
And I think that, you know, the instructors that work here,
they do it in the teachers and the parents that
come along to support a lot of the young people
that we see do a really good job of calming
(04:25):
those fears and that anxiety so that they can actually
see it through eyes of wonder. It doesn't mean we
don't see people freaking out. We definitely do have people
who get nervous and overwhelmed. That's what we're here for.
We're here to help them exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The heights thing would get me. That's where I lose
motion as and when I'm wailing through the air on
a fox or up in the trees, it's like, ah.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Well, you won't be the first and you won't be
the last.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I mean, I just think it's so important to do
this kind of outdoor education, and there are some schools
that build it into their curriculum where it's a you know,
it's a requisite part of the education. But do you
think there was I don't know how old you are,
shown you sound, You've got a lovely young sounding voice,
but I remember the two you know, the two thousand
(05:19):
and eight Tong Guerrero tragedy. It would have taken a while,
would it for schools and parents to feel comfortable about
outdoor education after two thousand and eight?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, well, I think I think the accident in two
thousand and eight is definitely highlighted to a lot of
people the need to ensure that their processes were really good.
And I think it did take a while for people
to step back into the outdoors space and be comfortable again.
But I think the schools that have supported their get
(05:53):
a tucky to be able to still get outside, and
I think with a lot of changes that have happened
since then, that it is a safer space. And some
you know, would argue that we we take away the
levels of risk that there is learning, But I actually
believe that the outdoors can be an incredibly safe space
(06:14):
if it's respecting, respected. Yeah, I think that's a good word.
I think also, you know, when the people who you're
out there with have the training and are conservative and
are doing the right things at the right time, and
it all comes down to having experience and building that
experience in a safe, supportive environment.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yeah, I mean, you don't want to eliminate risk from everything.
But at the same time, you want every child to
go home to their family.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Absolutely, absolutely, without a doubt. That's, you know, front and
foremost of my mind every single day, and it's hard
for it not to be, you know, when you want
everyone that comes through that door to make sure that
they go home as well.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So after the kids have been to your center, what
happens after when they go home? Do they does it
inculcate a love of the outdoors? Does it give them
at least an opening?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I think when they go home from any camp, I
think that there is a lot of processing that continues
to happen. And I think that that's really normal from
an outdoor education perspective, in that they may have had
a really hard time on camp and they won't make
sense of that until a week, a month, or a
year down the track, there'll be some sparks of recognition
(07:43):
of a learning that they've had, and then that will
allow them to continue to build on that. And we
have seen people go home and then we've had them
wanting to come back and do more, whether as part
of leadership teams or that they want to get into
the outdoors, or they start taking outdoor education within their school.
(08:06):
So I think it does have an impact on some
and well, it has an impact on everyone one way
or another.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I think too. I know that when when city life
and work and you know, stuff just gets on top
of you, getting into the soil, getting into bush, listening
to the birds, doing nothing but watching the rhythm of
nature is so healing.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, I agree, and I do think that one of
the things that we definitely try to do is try
to encourage people to observe. We use a few statements
almost like a cut of care where we talk about
Martai nok who, Martaidngie mar Taichi to martaik tator who.
(08:52):
And when we use that stuff, we're asking them to
observe and scan their environment to then be able to
learn from it and keep themselves safe. But also it
means that they connect a lot to it.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah. Yeah, and they understand that the virtual world as
only our world. There's a whole other world out there
that they can participate in.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
The virtual world and technology today is on one hand,
a super helpful thing to have when you're in the outdoors,
but it's not something that we want to use and
have young people using out there and having it distract
from that connection. You know, we talk about what can
they give back to the taile, how do they engage
(09:43):
with it and recognize their part of it. You know,
if we can keep our environment healthy, then our people
will be healthy. And we see that their ability to connect,
and we see the glow and the cheeks and think
that that's a real testament to that connection.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Growing couldn't agree more and more powerty is shown and more.
I hadn't heard of the Boil Outdoor Education Center before
I read the story, so I'm glad I did.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we're a small operator in the
big scheme of things. They're not super well known, and
I guess that's been one of our challenges is you know,
when it comes to surviving in today's day and age,
when you are a small operator, it's you know, a
small operator who sees a lot of people through the doors.
(10:29):
Today's day and age is tough for everyone, including organizations
like ours.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Fantastic, Thank you so much for your time, Sharon Nicholas
Boyle about Outdoor Education Center manager.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Carrywood and Morning's podcast from news Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
He'd be a story on our n ZET this morning,
cut my eye. It's about the importance of outdoor education
and how it helps to build up teenagers. The Boyle
River Outdoor Education Center is twenty minutes east of the
Lewis Pass. It's not for profit that it offers outdoor
ed programs to mainly secondary school groups and are in
(00:30):
the business of fostering leadership, growth and confidence in young people.
Sharon Nicholas is the center manager. She joins me, now,
good morning to you more very much. It's a fantastic idea,
the outdoor education. The teachers I've spoken to have been
on these say that quite often the introverted kids, the
(00:52):
ones who hang back a bit, suddenly find themselves and
are bolder and stronger and braver than anybody ever imagined.
Is that what you see on a day to day basis.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, I think we do see that the day to
day basis, along with kids that are not always academic
who really shine in this space.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
How many kids do you get through your center.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Varies from year to year. How many people we have
through the center to date, this year, we've had over
fifteen hundred closer to seventeen hundred people through our doors
this year.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Is that what you can cope with? Could you take more?
Speaker 3 (01:36):
We do still have some spaces. It's always more difficult
in winter to find people willing to brave the cold. However,
we're pretty excited about the numbers that we're seeing this year.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Tell me about the kind of qualities that can foster
in young people doing this sort of outdoor education. What
do you put them through and how do they respond
to it.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
It's really interesting. The qualities that can be fostered vary
because the individuals vary. I think what we do see
is we see a real increase in resilience and belief
in themselves. I think we also see many of them
becoming more comfortable with what might be an uncomfortable space
(02:23):
for themselves. And then there is of course the ability
to step into leadership roles and just grow in confidence
believing that they can actually do things.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
For many of them, how this would be new territory,
wouldn't it. They wouldn't have parents that would take them
out into the bush.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
Yeah, it is a new space for many of them
because a lot of parents may not have their own
experiences in the bush, and we do see a lot
of first generation New Zealanders coming through our doors, and
so it can be nerve wracking space for them, and
they can come in with a bit of anxiety, which
means part of our job is to try to encourage
(03:05):
them to connect with tile with our environment so that
they can feel like they're a part of it and
not are separated from it.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
I mean, I have heard of some kids who reach
early teenager who have never seen the sea, never seen
a river, You've never even seen a night sky full
of stars.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
Yeah, we feel really privileged up here at the Boyle
River out the center because I think we have a
lot of those things available, not the sea, and we're
loose definitely in the middle nowhere. But our night skies
are beautiful. We have stunning rivers, we have beautiful bush terrain,
and they get the opportunity to experience all of those
(03:49):
over their time while they're with us.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Does anyone ever freak out and find the hooting of
the owls, of the lurdu and the night sky just
too much, too much of a sensory overload.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
It's an interesting question. The idea of them freaking out.
I think they definitely get nervous when it's so new.
And I think that, you know, the instructors that work here,
they do it in the teachers and the parents that
come along to support a lot of the young people
that we see do a really good job of calming
(04:25):
those fears and that anxiety so that they can actually
see it through eyes of wonder. It doesn't mean we
don't see people freaking out. We definitely do have people
who get nervous and overwhelmed. That's what we're here for.
We're here to help them exactly.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The heights thing would get me. That's where I lose
motion as and when I'm wailing through the air on
a fox or up in the trees, it's like, ah.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Well, you won't be the first and you won't be
the last.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
I mean, I just think it's so important to do
this kind of outdoor education, and there are some schools
that build it into their curriculum where it's a you know,
it's a requisite part of the education. But do you
think there was I don't know how old you are,
shown you sound, You've got a lovely young sounding voice,
but I remember the two you know, the two thousand
(05:19):
and eight Tong Guerrero tragedy. It would have taken a while,
would it for schools and parents to feel comfortable about
outdoor education after two thousand and eight?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Yeah, well, I think I think the accident in two
thousand and eight is definitely highlighted to a lot of
people the need to ensure that their processes were really good.
And I think it did take a while for people
to step back into the outdoors space and be comfortable again.
But I think the schools that have supported their get
(05:53):
a tucky to be able to still get outside, and
I think with a lot of changes that have happened
since then, that it is a safer space. And some
you know, would argue that we we take away the
levels of risk that there is learning, But I actually
believe that the outdoors can be an incredibly safe space
(06:14):
if it's respecting, respected. Yeah, I think that's a good word.
I think also, you know, when the people who you're
out there with have the training and are conservative and
are doing the right things at the right time, and
it all comes down to having experience and building that
experience in a safe, supportive environment.
Speaker 2 (06:38):
Yeah, I mean, you don't want to eliminate risk from everything.
But at the same time, you want every child to
go home to their family.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Absolutely, absolutely, without a doubt. That's, you know, front and
foremost of my mind every single day, and it's hard
for it not to be, you know, when you want
everyone that comes through that door to make sure that
they go home as well.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
So after the kids have been to your center, what
happens after when they go home? Do they does it
inculcate a love of the outdoors? Does it give them
at least an opening?
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I think when they go home from any camp, I
think that there is a lot of processing that continues
to happen. And I think that that's really normal from
an outdoor education perspective, in that they may have had
a really hard time on camp and they won't make
sense of that until a week, a month, or a
year down the track, there'll be some sparks of recognition
(07:43):
of a learning that they've had, and then that will
allow them to continue to build on that. And we
have seen people go home and then we've had them
wanting to come back and do more, whether as part
of leadership teams or that they want to get into
the outdoors, or they start taking outdoor education within their school.
(08:06):
So I think it does have an impact on some
and well, it has an impact on everyone one way
or another.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I think too. I know that when when city life
and work and you know, stuff just gets on top
of you, getting into the soil, getting into bush, listening
to the birds, doing nothing but watching the rhythm of
nature is so healing.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
Yeah, I agree, and I do think that one of
the things that we definitely try to do is try
to encourage people to observe. We use a few statements
almost like a cut of care where we talk about
Martai nok who, Martaidngie mar Taichi to martaik tator who.
(08:52):
And when we use that stuff, we're asking them to
observe and scan their environment to then be able to
learn from it and keep themselves safe. But also it
means that they connect a lot to it.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah. Yeah, and they understand that the virtual world as
only our world. There's a whole other world out there
that they can participate in.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
You know.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
The virtual world and technology today is on one hand,
a super helpful thing to have when you're in the outdoors,
but it's not something that we want to use and
have young people using out there and having it distract
from that connection. You know, we talk about what can
they give back to the taile, how do they engage
(09:43):
with it and recognize their part of it. You know,
if we can keep our environment healthy, then our people
will be healthy. And we see that their ability to connect,
and we see the glow and the cheeks and think
that that's a real testament to that connection.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Growing couldn't agree more and more powerty is shown and more.
I hadn't heard of the Boil Outdoor Education Center before
I read the story, so I'm glad I did.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah, thank you. Yeah, we're a small operator in the
big scheme of things. They're not super well known, and
I guess that's been one of our challenges is you know,
when it comes to surviving in today's day and age,
when you are a small operator, it's you know, a
small operator who sees a lot of people through the doors.
(10:29):
Today's day and age is tough for everyone, including organizations
like ours.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Fantastic, Thank you so much for your time, Sharon Nicholas
Boyle about Outdoor Education Center manager.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
For more from Kerry Wooden Mornings, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from nine am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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